Home

Current Clack

• Have you ever wondered how to pronounce that "ch" sound in Fochlucan ( listen)? Or how to say remorhaz ( listen)? Wonder no more! After a huge effort led by Sirwhiteout and Lhynard, now articles from Aarakocra to Zuggtmoy include both IPA and English phonetic respellings, and many more will include audio samples over the next few weeks/months. Enjoy learning how to say the many strange names found across Toril (pronounced: /tɔːrˈrɪl/ tor-RIL  listen).
• BadCatMan studied the ancient elven realm of Siluvanede but, after escaping plant creatures in Telardon, was hunted by the fey'ri of House Aelorothi. Hiding in Myth Adofhaer, he was frozen in stasis. He emerged months later, wondering where the time went.
• Saya222 tracked the elusive drow god Vhaeraun to his realm on Colothys, but immediately forgot where it was and much about it. Upon leaving, Saya was taken prisoner by demodands, but escaped with the aid of stolen Vhaeraunite magic, like bladebend and darkfire.
• With less danger, Daranios documented many other gods and their realms, from Valkur's Safe Harbor to Savras's The Eye. Then Daranios went for a walk and was swept up in the disturbing Wild Hunt, and later came face to unseen face with the Shadow Giant.
• Regis87 added many more works to the archives, from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms, and Avatar comics series; to the Lords of Waterdeep, The Legend of Drizzt, Betrayal at Baldur's Gate, and Tyrants of the Underdark board games.
• Once again, we remind everyone of the FRW's Past-Tense Policy. It doesn't mean everything's dead and gone, it's just an easier way of telling the stories of the Realms, just like in novels.

Featured Article

Eilistraee was the chaotic good drow goddess of song, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight, goodness, and beauty, within the drow pantheon known as the Dark Seldarine. She was the patroness and protectress of the few dark elves who longed to return to the surface and live there, at peace with other races, and to abandon the endless conflicts and intrigues that dominated the lives of most drow.

She was often referred to as the The Dark Maiden, the Lady of the Dance, or Lady Silverhair, and sometimes The Dark Dancer, among other titles. After 1375 DR, for a brief time and while her faith subsumed that of her brother, the Masked Lord Vhaeraun, she became known as The Masked Lady.

Eilistraee was the daughter of Araushnee and Corellon Larethian, a free-spirited and kind-hearted goddess, with a fiery streak in her personality. After Araushnee's treachery almost made her slay her own father when a host of evil deities assaulted Arvandor, even as she was cleared from any guilt, Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile. She made that choice because she knew that the drow would need her light in the times to come. After the descent of the drow, Eilistraee tried her best to be a mother goddess to her people and bring them the hope of a new life: she fought to lead them back to the lands of light, helping them to flourish and prosper in harmony with all other races, free from Lolth's tyranny. Hers was an uphill battle, however, as her power was little and she was opposed by all the gods of the Dark Seldarine. But, despite having to overcome many hardships and setbacks, Eilistraee never gave up fighting for her people.

In the 1370s DR, her conflict with her mother over the souls of the drow race ultimately led to Eilistraee's defeat and temporary disappearance. It lasted for about a century, until the Second Sundering, when Eilistraee returned to life and to her followers.

Featured Source

City of the Spider Queen is an adventure module set in the Forgotten Realms using the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition ruleset, and was designed by James Wyatt. It focuses on drow, the Silence of Lolth, and the cult of Kiaransalee, taking the PCs from the Dordrien crypts of Daggerdale through the Underdark to the drow outpost of Szith Morcane and finally the city of Maerimydra, to defeat the schemes of Irae T'sarran.

“

The Fate of Faerûn Lies in Shadowy Darkness! Daggerdale is reeling from a sudden series of murderous drow raids. As a grave threat to the entire surface world develops in the war-torn dark elf city of Maerimydra, intrepid heroes must discover its source and destroy it, if they can. Designed to take 10th level characters as far as 18th level, City of the Spider Queen draws the heroes into the deepest reaches of the Underdark and plunges them into an epic adventure with dire consequences. 13 new monsters 13 new magic items 16-page full-color map booklet

”

New & Upcoming Releases

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes by Mike Mearls and Jeremy Crawford is a 5th-edition Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook focusing on the multiverse and its inhabitants, released May 2018.

“

Discover the truth about the great conflicts of the D&D multiverse in this supplement for the world's greatest roleplaying game. This tome is built on the writings of the renowned wizard from the world of Greyhawk, gathered over a lifetime of research and scholarship. In his travels to other realms and other planes of existence, he has made many friends, and has risked his life an equal number of times, to amass the knowledge contained herein. In addition to Mordenkainen's musings on the endless wars of the multiverse, the book contains game statistics for dozens of monsters: new demons and devils, several varieties of elves and duergar, and a vast array of other creatures from throughout the planes of existence.

”

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is a 5th-edition Dungeons & Dragons adventure set in the city of Waterdeep. It is due to be released on September 18, 2018.

“

A fantastic treasure trove is yours for the taking in this adventure for the world's greatest roleplaying game. Famed explorer Volothamp Geddarm needs you to complete a simple quest. Thus begins a mad romp through the wards of Waterdeep as you uncover a villainous plot involving some of the city's most influential figures. A grand urban caper awaits you. Pit your skill and bravado against villains the likes of which you've never faced before, and let the dragon hunt begin!

”

Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford is a premium adventure module for the Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition computer game. It was developed by Ossian Studios was released June 1, 2018.

“

The Duke of Daggerford has been mysteriously killed, a new power has taken over the town, bandits rove the Trade Way unhindered, and mysterious things stir in a fabled ancient citadel, yet all is not as it seems. A darkness is fast descending upon this sleepy town near Waterdeep – will you be able to stand against it?

”

Today in the Realms...

...it is 22 Kythorn, or the 22nd of the Time of Flowers. On this day:

• Worshipers of Tyr perform the ritual of the Blinding at which an illusion of a giant pair of eyes appears above the congregation and then sheds flaming tears until they drain away to nothing.

Realmslore

• Granite was quarried in many diverse places, from Battledale to Stygia in the Nine Hells. Many famous sites were built from granite, such as Citadel Adbar and the walls of Zhentil Keep.
• Bathed-In-Blood, a crimson-red suit of magical plate mail, was commissioned by Kheros the Red to commemorate overcoming his fear of blood.
• Slivers, celestial servants of Selûne, had volatile personalities and were quick to anger. According to scholarly belief, they were made from a combination of fire and moonlight.
• Kirukeskai was the second beholder to call himself the Xanathar. Under his influence, the Xanathar's Thieves' Guild expanded its influence deep into Undermountain.
• Blackjammer's cutlass was an intelligent sword rumored to have been forged in the Tears of Selûne. It was eventually lost midway between the crystal spheres Oerth and Krynn.
• The Missing Minotaur, a tavern in Everlund, was named after the first monster its owner defeated. Considered a rough-and-tumble watering hole, it was frequented by members of the Harpers and the Arcane Brotherhood.
• Hextons were winged modrons with six-fingered hands and clawed tentacles. In the rigid society of Mechanus, they were considered the fifth rank of hierarch modrons.
• The Pyramid of the Moon appeared in seemingly random locations in Chult, and only during moonlight. After it appeared one night near Port Nyanzaru, more than two hundred people disappeared.

And, from the archives:

• The kingdom of Valashar briefly conquered the Western Heartlands in the 300s DR before being repelled by King Azoun I of Cormyr.
• When the Sharran priestess Lalondra Worul attained lichdom, all her followers died, erasing the church's power overnight.
• The disturbing Stormkeep in the Fallen Lands housed oil-filled vats containing bestial limbs that could be grafted to any wound.
• The create crypt servant spell was first used in the ruined kingdoms of Nog and Kadar to raise undead to guard tombs.
• Nilhogg's nose was an Underdark breed of fungus that, when consumed, enhanced one's sensitivity to smell, for better or worse.
• The Spirit Warriors of Kara-Tur's Celestial Bureaucracy inspired courage in warriors and aided those who were in slain in battle.
• The great Zakharan roc rivaled or surpassed dragons in size, making it one of largest flying creatures around.
• Ting Mei Wan was the fanatical and distrustful Minister of State Security of Shou Lung, who executed all who failed her.

Featured Image